Golf trolleys



Feb. 4, 1969 FUSAMATSU SATQ GOLF TROLLEYS Sheet 014 Filed July 25. 1966 INVENTOR kc 34 Maxi s/A :91 f BY W 0? W I ATTO EY I Feb. 4, 1969 FUSAMATSU SATO 3,425,708

GOLF TROLLEYS I Filed July- 25, 1966 Sheet 3 of 4 INVENTOR Esa wl u $217 4 BY d W W ATT RNE Feb. 4, 1969 FUSAMATSU SATO GOLF TROLLEYS Sheet 4 of 4 Filed July 25, 1966 i I INVENIOR f2 W I A'ITO EY United States Patent ()flice Patented Feb. 4, 1969 3,425,708 GOLF ,TROLLEYS Fusamatsu Sato, 1.060 Kami Ikegami-cho, Ota-ku,

Filed July Tokyo, Japan. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,482 US. Cl, 280-4719 Int. Cl. B62b 1/22 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a golf trolley which comprises a cylindrical jacket, having a lateral opening, in the lower half of which several club cradles free to rotate-onfa tubular axle are installed, while around the upper end a display plate is interlinked, and at the lower end wheels are provided. I

In prior practice, golfing equipment such as golf clubs and golf balls were contained in a bag, with club heads pointing upwards in an orderless manner; balls were sunk in a patch pocket, and the bag was carried on the shoulde or by hand or else hauled on a wheelbarrow.

In this prior method the club heads and handles abraded each other, while being carried and were more apt to get damaged, in addition when it came to using them one had to pick up the head of each club and then to change the grip to grip the club handle, causing an (extremely cumbersome) manipulation, and still more it was not easy to walk with a heavy bag loaded with many clubs on the shoulder or in the hand. Thus a golfer needed to hire caddies or carriers, which is expensive.

According to the invention there is provided a golf trolley, in which an upright container accommodates clubs with their heads deposited downwards in an orderly manner, each club can easily be taken out with no extra motion added to the state of deposition. Moreover, with the merit of the wheels on which the container rides, clubs can be transported with comfort.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the golf trolley;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the trolley of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the cylindrical jacket in lateral cross section;

FIGURE 4 is a plane view of cradles a, b, c, d, flange e, and display plate 1 mounted on the tubular axle;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the cylindrical jacket with swing shutter open;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the upper half of the cylindrical jacket in lateral cross section;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of the wheel unit in part cross-section; and

FIGURE 8 shows the interior of the control mechanism of wheel axle.

1 is the cylindrical jacket formed with synthetic resin or light metallic plate, and a lateral access window provided with a swing shutter 2 is constructed in front of it. 4 is the tubular axle which is free to rotate and its lower end is axle-pivoted 5 to the exterior bottom of the cylindrical jacket 1, and display plate 6 is interlinked at around the upper end. On the surface of this display plate 6, figures corresponding to golf clubs such as 1, 6, 7, 4, 5, D, 9, 3, 4, 8, 5 3, PA, P1 are marked in .a circular arrangement, and there are slots 7 corresponding to such of these markings, and an elastic strip 8 is peeking out at each slotcavity interface to pinch the handle of golf club. Moreover, built in the lower half section of the cylindrical jacket are club headtcradles in sever.a.l-tiers. These tier cradles are positioned for adequate accon' modation of clubs, for example, the lowest-tier cradle -9=and 2nd tier cradle 10 are of -rectangular form panspiledtransversely to each other, and club heads are riding on each tier of cradle, on the lowest cradle.9, say, club 1s and 3 s heads, on the 2nd cradle 10 club 4s and 55, on the 3ra' cradle 11 club 3 s, 4s, 5s and 6 s, onthe 4th cradle 12 club 6s, 7s, 8s and Pls, and on the 5th cradle 14, along the periphery of which notches 13 are being provided to pinch handle of each club C, Club Ds and PAs heads, 15 is a flange seating at thehe'ad of cradle 1-4 of the, 5th tier, and the notches '16 and 17 on it pinch the handles of say clubs D and PA With the above compositions of components, shutter 2 is first opened, and the. golf club C corresponding to the markingof display plate 6 is placed on the cradle, head downwards, from the window 3 of cylindrical jacket 1, then the handle is deposited in the slot designated with the marking paired with the display plate 6, and is stabilized by the pinching of the elastic strip 8. In this manner each club C is deposited in the cylindrical jacket one after another from the window 3 by rotating tubular axle 4 in conjunction {with display plate 6. When clubs C are not in use, the shutter 2 is kept closed, whereas when in use the shutter 2 is opened, and by rotating display plate 6 and tubular a'xle 4, desired club C is made accessible for use at the window 3 of cylindrical jacket 1. After use, as before, the tubular axle 4 is rotated so that the marking, which corresponds to the very club, on the display plate assumes the position in the window 3, and then club C is deposited in cylindrical jacketl. At the bottom of the cylindrical jacket 1 is a seat member 18 so that the cylindrical jacket can stand steady and upright, and at the upper rear face is provided a handle rod 20 slipped in arm 19 and capable of sliding up and down in it. This handle rod is set at any desired position by screw 21. Moreover, at the lower rear face of the cylindrical jacket, a casing '23 equipped with swing shutter 22 attached on it, wheel .axle 26 linking wheels 25 at its outer ends being fitted in bearings 24 provided at both sides of the casing, at its inner ends ring slots being provided, by coupling it with stopper 29 by means of elastic spring 28, in use, the stopper 29 being unlocked off from the ring slot 27 resisting the elastic spring 28 as shown by an arrow, and wheel axle 26 being moved in the direction of the arrow into the casing 23, the span of two wheels 25 can be reduced. By the working mechanism of this wheel system the cart can be moved in a comfortable manner, and at the same time in case of carrying this equipment by means of grip 30 mounted on the casing 23 or of storing it, the above mechanism provides a convenient way of shortening of the span of wheels 25. In addition, to comply with the height 'of the person wheeling this equipment, the length of handle rod 20 can be adjusted to suit him by the .above mechanism, so it is also convenient from the view point of wheeling. Still more, by utilizing the cavity of the tubular axle, as shown in the figure, a barrel type of golf ball B container 33 can be accommodated provided with elastic separators 32 and connected at its top with handle rod 31. Generally, the container 33 is made of vinyl material and semicircular in section. Golf balls B are retained between elastic separators 32 and taken out sideways when the container 33 is pulled out vertically by handle rod 31. The cavity can also be used as umbrella stand.

As shown above, since this invention makes it feasible to easily draw out a random club, whose head was deposited downwards keeping the cylindrical jacket still standing upright it provides the convenience that clubs can be immediately used as they were deposited, the feature differing from prior types of bags in which clubs were bagged with their heads pointing upwards. Moreover, when clubs are deposited in the cylindrical jacket, each club head rests in the cradle installed in the tubular axle, and handles are fitted in the slots and secured with elastic strips. Thereby, clubs are safe from getting damaged from their heads and handles abrading neighbouring ones. Furthermore, the cart can be moved with comfort by the merit of the wheels upholding the cylindrical jacket and at the same time the cavity of the tubular axle can be utilized as a golf ball container. Because the wheel span can be reduced, it is convenient for actual hand carrying or storing in addition to various other convenient features.

What I claim is:

1. A golf club container and cart, comprising in combination a compartment for the clubs whereby the handles of said clubs protrude though a rotatable top having indicating means thereon, a swinging closure for said compartment, a handle at one end of the compartment, a pair of wheels mounted adjacent the other end of the compartment, a support for the said golf clubs rotatably mounted inside the compartment consisting of three or more tiers of cradles, said cradles being dished shape, means for turning the support, and indicia for selectively positioning a desired club adjacent the opening in the compartment, a golf ball case positioned in the center of the container, having an elongated handle for easily removing said golf balls from said container, a separate external compartment for carrying golfing accessories, except golf balls, additional supporting and gripping means for the club shafts on the outer face of the inner rotatable support and container, said shaft supporting and gripping means maintaining each individual club in a secure position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1959 Vincelette. 6/1959 Watson. 

